Corruption and the functioning of public administration as challenges for European integration of Albania

Abstract

This article describes and analyses the phenomenon of corruption and the functioningof public administration in Albania, which are considered among the key challenges inthe process of European integration. Albania has made significant progress to adaptits legislation to EU standards in the field of anti-corruption but the enforcement ofthis legislation and the strengthening of rule of law still remain big challenges.There are some noteworthy positive steps taken by the Albanian governmentduring the last two years, such as the reform in the procedures of admissions to thepublic universities, the new procedure on e-procurement, the decentralisedprocedure for the registration of new business entities and efforts to reduce fiscalevasion.However, all the Albanian governments, including the current one, have failedto implement civil service law. The established Department of Public Administrationand the Civil Service Commission have been constantly under the pressure andinfluence of the executive.